§. 39. Of childrens Recompence.
The generall head whereunto al the duties which children owe to their parents in regard of their Necessity, is in one word Recompence, which is a dutie whereby children indea∣uour as much as in them lieth, to repay what they can for their parents kindnesse, care, and cost towards them, and that in way * 1.1 of thankfulnesse; which maketh a childe thinke he cannot doe too much for his parent, & well may he thinke so, for a parent doth much more for his childe before it is able to doe for it selfe, then the childe possibly can doe for the parent. So as if the parents authority were laid aside, yet the law of equity re∣quireth this dutie of Recompence: so also doth the law of piety and charity. Wherefore of all other Duties this is most due. * 1.2 It is in expresse termes giuen in charge to children by the Apostle, who willeth them to learne to requite their parents.
Contrary is neglect of parents in their need, which is more * 1.3 then monstrous ingratitude. As all ingratitude is odious to God and man, so this most of all, and yet very many are guilty thereof. In them the prouerbe is verified that loue is weighty. For it is the property of weighty things to fall downe apace, out to ascend slowly, and that not without some violence. Thus loue from the parent to the childe falleth downe apace, ••ut it hardly ascendeth from children to parents. In which respect another prouerbe saith, One father will better nourish nine children, then nine children one father. Many children in his kinde doe no more for their parents, then for strangers. They either consider not how much their parents haue done